Opening this weekend at the Franklin Institute is "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition," marking the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the iconic ship and showcasing more than 300 legendary artifacts conserved from its debris field, offering visitors a poignant look at the vessel and its passengers. The 15,000 square foot exhibition takes visitors on a chronological journey through the life of the Titanic, from its building to life on board, and is designed to focus on the compelling human stories, through April 7 at 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia. Tickets: $14.50-$29.

Princeton University's Lewis Center for the Arts and Department of Music present the World Premiere of "Der Bourgeois Bigwig," November 9-17, a new adaptation by James Magruder of the Moliere comedy Les Bourgeois Gentilhomme, written to complement Richard Strauss' well-known orchestral suite and music from 1912, directed by Tim Vasen, Director of the Program in Theater, with the Department of Music's Michael Pratt conducting the Princeton University Orchestra, at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ. Tickets: $15, $10 students and seniors.

The SHARP Dance Company premieres four different performances by guest choreographers from New York and Philadelphia in "Four Hot Men and an Old Lady." Choreographer Steven Vaughn's "Phantom Others" is an abstract piece that observes the motivations to push forward as a future self. Kevin Ferguson presents an updated version of his 2010 piece, "Awakenings." Joe Cotler premieres "Chosen," and "No White Horses, No Happy Endings" by Charles Tyson tackles struggling relationships using a dark physicality. Performances are Friday, November 9 at 8pm and Saturday, November 10 at 5pm and 8pm at the Painted Bride Arts Center, 230 Vine Street, Philadelphia. $25, $15 for seniors and students.

The Bryn Mawr and Haverford College BI-CO Theater Department opens its new season with Steven Dietz's "The Nina Variations," a modern take on Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull," a patchwork exploration of the final scene of Chekhov's play, November 9-17, 7:30pm, Goodhart Hall, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA. Performances free and open to the public.

David Bromberg performs a unique night of music spanning generations of folk, blues, Cajun and American music along with his "Big Band," Saturday, November 10, 8pm, at the Keswick Theater, 291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, PA. Tickets: $34.50-$42.50.

Bands of Brothers performs at World Café Live on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, with 3 all-vet bands performing and special celebrity musicians including Marshall Crenshaw (pictured) and Eric Bazilian of The Hooters, to raise awareness and benefit veterans with PTSD, doors open at 7pm, show at 8pm, Downstairs Live, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. General admission $45.

The Free Library of Philadelphia continues its celebration of Charles Dickens' Bicentenary, "A Year of Dickens," with special events including Drinking with Dickens, Monday, November 12, 7pm, Fergie's Pub, and a Literary Salon "Our Mutual Friend," Thursday, November 15, 6:30pm, Central Library and exhibits including "At Home on the Stage: Charles Dickens and Theatre," through January 4, 2013, Central Library, Philadelphia.

Curtis Opera Theatre performs Mozart's "The Magic Flute," with Vinay Parameswaran, conducting, with stage direction by Chas Rader-Shieber, November 15-18, in a fully staged production with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, sung in German with English subtitles and dialogue and including singers from the Philadelphia Boys Choir, at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Tickets: $35.

Spellbound Dance Company, from Italy, makes its North American debut at Annenberg Center, November 15-17, Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. Spellbound Artistic Director Mauro Astolfi has been in town presenting his new work with BalletX. Presented by Dance Celebration. Tickets: $20-$55.

Iron Age Theatre presents "Mana," by Ray Saraceni, a World Premiere exploring the experiences of the first archaeologists on Easter Island, directed by Randall Wise and John Doyle with Laurie Norton and Adam Altman, through November 25 at the Center Theater, 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA and through December 2 at the Off Broad Street Theater, First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom Street, Philadelphia. Tickets: $15-$22.

The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium presents an evening of short comedic pieces ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime with "Impassioned Embraces: Pieces of Love and Theatre," by playwright John Pielmeier, author of Agnes of God, through November 28. Cast includes Lou Seitchik, Colleen Hughes, James Kiesel and more, directed by IRC's Producing Artistic Director Tina Brock at L'Etage Cabaret, 6th & Bainbridge Streets, Philadelphia. Tickets $15.

"The English Bride" is onstage at Theatre Exile, a psychological thriller by Lucile Lichtblau that follows a series of interrogations carried out after an attempted bombing on a London flight, through December 2. Starring Corrina Burns, J. Paul Nicholas, and Damon Bonetti, and directed by Deborah Block at Studio X, 1340 South 13th Street, Philadelphia. $10-$34.

Maurice Hennequin and Pierre Veber's French farce, "Anything to Declare," comes to Thompson Theatre on Thursday, November 15. The Resident Ensemble Players will perform the comedy which combines raucous humor and bawdy innuendo to tell the tale of a newly married couple unable to consummate their marriage, through December 9, Roselle Center for the Arts, 110 Orchard Road, Newark, DE. Tickets: $12-$27.

America's Oldest Theatre brings one of America's favorite Broadway musicals to Philadelphia. Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" runs through January 6 on the Walnut Street Theatre's main stage, bringing together the talents of Jeffrey Coon and Jennifer Hope Wills as leads, and directed and choreographed by Marc Robin. Set in River City, Iowa, the musical shows what happens when a fast-talking con man falls in love with the town's librarian, 825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, $10-$95.

The Michener Art Museum hosts a one-of-a-kind installation by fiber artist Ted Hallman. Considered a seminal figure in the modern textile as art movement since the late 1950s, the Bucks County native has influenced an entire generation to embrace fiber art and the installation, "Suspended Harmonies: Fiber Art by Ted Hallman," features pieces that show off Hallman's playful and exuberant style by using colored streamers, tape, wire, and other materials to form environments and forms visitors can weave through, on display through March 3, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, PA. $15, $13 for seniors, $11 for students with ID.

Other events in Philly

The 36th annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, including artwork in all genres such as fiber, jewelry, ceramics, mixed media, and more, Friday, November 9, 11am-9pm, Saturday, November 10, 10am-6pm, and Sunday, November 11, 10am-5pm, 12th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia. Tickets: $15 adult (single day), $20 adult (two days), $5 children under twelve.

The 15th Annual FirstGlance Film Fest Philadelphia premieres over 30 independent films this weekend starting on Friday, November 9 at 8pm, doors at 7:30pm. Features include "Steve Phoenix-The Untold Story," "The Normals," "Shouting Secrets," and "The Kill Hole." Audiences will be able to vote for Best of the Fest Grand Prize, which gives the winner an opportunity to premiere their film in Las Vegas. Runs through Sunday, November 11 at The Franklin Institute's Franklin Theater, 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia. $8-$12.

The Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble performs a program of Tournier, Schumann, and Mozart, Friday, November 9, 8pm and Sunday, November 11, 2pm, with special guest performances by William Polk and Kerri Ryan at Old Pine Street Church, 412 Pine Street, Society Hill, Philadelphia. Tickets: $25, $5 students, teens accompanying a paying adult are free. Admission includes post-concert reception. Parking available. The ensemble features present and retired Philadelphia Orchestra musicians.

The Frankford Fall Music & Arts Fest is Saturday, November 10, 2pm-8pm, with local musicians on 3 stages including Betty Iron Thumbs, Ryan Tennis, Safari Dudes and more, along with food, beer, art exhibitions, and crafts at St. Mark's Church, 4442 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia. Tickets: $5 if you bring a can of food to donate, $8 in advance online, $10 at the door. Free parking available.

The Rosenbach Museum and Library presents the opening of its newest exhibit "War Stories: Hard Earned. Unforgettably Told. An Exhibition: Soldier's Stories Then and Now," a display of historic letters and documents from the Rosenbach's collection. The exhibit explores the parallel experiences of American soldiers throughout history, from the American Revolution to Operation Enduring Freedom with first-person accounts, opening Veterans Day, November 11, with free admission and a reception from 1pm-3pm. Continues through May 26 at 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia. Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students, and free for children under 5.

The Philadelphia Comedy Collective presents the 8th Annual Philadelphia Improv Festival, through November 11, showcasing the city's robust and thriving improv scene while paring it with some of the top rising improv acts in the country. The 5th Annual Philly Sketchfest follows, November 12-17.

"Problem Child," is onstage at Walking Fish Theatre, the first show of B. Someday Productions' season of "Comedies about things that aren't funny." The play is part of the "Suburban Motel" series by Canadian playwright George F. Walker and is onstage through November 17 at 2509 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia. Directed by Stan Heleva and starring Gina Martino, Michelle Pauls and more. Tickets: $20.

The 11th Annual First Person Arts Festival is underway through November 17, presented by Penn's Master of Liberal Arts Program, with events taking place at Christ Church Neighborhood House, Ortlieb's Lounge, and Underground Arts at the Wolf Building in Philadelphia. Highlights include the PNC Arts Alive Story Day: All Roads Lead to Philadelphia, a family friendly day of storytelling, dance performance, workshops, food and more, Saturday, November 17, 11am-5pm. Ticket prices vary per event.

The Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival continues through November 18 at the Gershman Y, Bryn Mawr Film Institute, the Ritz and other venues throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Tickets: $5-$15.

On display at the University of the Arts is a unique exhibition in tribute to the late artist Isa Barnett. "Generation to Generation," is presented by his artist son and fellow UArts alumnus Ivan Barnett, and features a wide range of Isa's works including paintings, drawings, historical illustrations and photography as well as contemporary mixed media by Ivan, through November 26 in Hamilton Hall, Broad Street, Philadelphia. Isa's illustrations appeared on covers and inside the Saturday Evening Post, National Geographic, Readers' Digest, Life and more. Approximately 75 of his pieces will be offered for sale in a wide range of media; many of which have never before been seen by the public. Proceeds from sale benefit student scholarships.

Onstage at Lantern Theater Company is David Ives' "The Liar." Incorrigible liar Dorante falls in love with the beautiful Clarice while on a trip to Paris, but soon his own lies lead him into a world of trouble. Kathryn MacMillian directs through December 2, St. Stephen's Theater, 10th & Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia. Tickets: $20-$38, discounts available for seniors, students, and groups.

Other events in the region

The 49th Annual Delaware Antiques Show comes to the Chase Center on the Riverfront this Friday, November 9 through Sunday, November 11. Sixty dealers from around the country offer a wide array of antiques, including furniture, rugs, ceramics, jewelry, paintings, and more, including lectures and events, 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, Delaware. $15, $13 for Winterthur members.

The Trenton International Film Festival is November 9-11, featuring films from Guadeloupe, Argentina, France, Sweden, Germany, the U.S. and more, at Mill Hill Playhouse, Montgomery and Front Streets, Trenton, NJ. Tickets $5-$8.

The 17th Annual Sippin' by the River returns, after a year off, to benefit the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Saturday, November 10, 1pm-5pm, with an assortment of food, wine, beer, and spirits plus interactive sessions, a silent auction, entertainment, live music, and more, Campbell's Field Stadium, 401 N. Delaware Avenue, Camden, NJ. Tickets $35-$65.

The Philadelphia Trio performs Sunday, November 11 at 3pm with a program featuring the Beethoven Trio, op. 11 for piano, Schubert's "Shepherd on the Rock" for soprano, clarinet and piano, Bernstein's "Dream with Me" from Peter Pan for soprano and piano, and more at the Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 South Valley Forge Road, Devon, PA with guests Charles Salinger, clarinet, Evelyn Luise, viola, and Melanie Sarakatsannis, soprano. Tickets $18, $15 senior, $13 student. Reception to follow concert.

Broadway Theatre of Pitman concludes their 6th main stage season with the musical comedy "Guys and Dolls," by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, through November 18, 43 South Broadway, Pitman, NJ. Tickets: $25. Suitable for all ages.

Theatre Horizon presents "Pretty Fire," by Charlayne Woodard and directed by James Ijames, starring storyteller Cathy Simpson, about two sisters growing up in a close-knit family who venture into the wider world and encounter Ku Klux Klan riders in Georgia and three generations of a family's struggles and triumphs, through November 18, along with related programming at 401 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA. Tickets: $20-$21.

Villanova University Theatre presents "The Drowsy Chaperone," through December 2, directed by Rev. Peter M. Donohue, who returns to the director's chair for the first time since becoming the President of Villanova University in 2006. The "show within-a-show" comedy can be seen in Vasey Hall, Lancaster & Ithan Avenues, Villanova, PA. Tickets $21-$25 with discounts available for seniors, students, Villanova Theatre alumni, and groups.

The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts presents the solo exhibition of Joseph Girandola, "Rise and Fall: Monumental Duct Tape Drawings," featuring large-scale "drawings" using duct tape as the primary medium. The artist brings to life images of iconic cultural symbols, including the Taj Mahal, built up layer by layer using different colors of tape, on display through February 10 at 200 South Madison Street, Wilmington, DE. Free admission.

Brett Rader contributed reporting to this week's guide.

To submit an event to be considered for the Weekly Entertainment Guide email Robin Bloom at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.

Like us on Facebook to add the Weekly Entertainment Guide to your News Feed.

Your browser is out-of-date!

Some features of this website (and others) may not work correctly with Internet Explorer 8 and below. Click below and we'll show you your upgrade options (they're free). -your friends at NewsWorks. Update my browser now